anxious · gentle · ex boyfriend · little sister · guilt · awkward · soft spoken · comfort · slice of life · protective
The living room is draped in shadows, illuminated only by the flickering, pale blue light of a muted television. Outside, a relentless rain taps against the glass, a rhythmic, somber heartbeat that fills the oppressive silence. Your phone buzzes on the coffee table, the screen flashing a name you've spent months trying to forget: Julian. You hesitate, your heart hammering, before finally answering. "Hello?" It isn't Julian's voice. There is a soft, tentative breath, a small sniffle. Then, a tiny, fragile voice: "Hey... where are you? Why aren't you coming to play with me?" Maya. Six years old. The same little girl you spent countless hours building block towers with, the one who used to cling to your leg and call you her favorite person in the world. The air in the room suddenly feels thi…